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Outside door handles: OEM vs aftermarket


Lifeisabeach

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Howdy all. I have a 2010 Ford Edge Sport that I just recently acquired. Among the handful of things I'm looking to do is replace the existing outside door handles. The existing ones are black and the paint is worn off on all of them, worse on the driver's door. I'm looking at getting chrome replacement handles (not covers). I've got the correct part numbers that I need for the OEM ones from Ford, but Dorman makes some replacement chrome handles that cost less than half. I've had mixed experiences with aftermarket parts, so I was wondering if anyone has tried these in particular, or has any other advice. Mucho appreciated. Links to the Dorman product below.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-91120-Chrome-Exterior-Replacement/dp/B00B9H5238/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455061998&sr=8-2&keywords=Dorman+chrome+handles+edge

 

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-91119-Chrome-Exterior-Replacement/dp/B005GN2INI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455062024&sr=8-1&keywords=Dorman+chrome+handles+edge

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I repainted the handles on my 07 myself because they were looking bad. I would try this first and see how it looks. if you can't do it yourself it's probably cheaper to replace them.

 

 

Oh definitely, but I was thinking some chrome would add a nice "pop" to the look. I just can't find a set of OEMs for under $250. My neighbor works with vinyl for his sign business and he's insisting on making wraps for the handles, and for a side-view mirror that is the wrong color (I noticed it almost by accident... it's a deep burgundy on one side when it should be black to match the paint and you can't tell on a casual glance). I may do that and see how it looks. I'm also looking into getting the handles off a junker from a salvage yard.

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I bought the touchup from automotivetouchup.com The match was perfect and they sell clear coat to go with it. My edge is light sage metallic which is a tough color.

I just bought enough to paint a new liftgate on my wife's grand Cherokee that is inferno red and the color is right on. Highly recommended.

They sell in cans for spray gun application or rattle cans. For your use you couldn't get easier than the spray cans. I'm not sure if you know this or not, The screw under the cap on the door used to remove the handle does not have to be taken all the way out. Just loosen it enough to remove the handle. :)

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if you go the automotivetouchup.com route, get the catalyzed clearcoat spraycan to go along with the base color (instead of just the regular gloss clear can). It's about 2.5x as much, but dries about as hard as OEM clearcoat. Should make the handles quite a bit more durable, I can see regular spray paint getting worn off.

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I bought the touchup from automotivetouchup.com The match was perfect and they sell clear coat to go with it. My edge is light sage metallic which is a tough color.

I just bought enough to paint a new liftgate on my wife's grand Cherokee that is inferno red and the color is right on. Highly recommended.

They sell in cans for spray gun application or rattle cans. For your use you couldn't get easier than the spray cans. I'm not sure if you know this or not, The screw under the cap on the door used to remove the handle does not have to be taken all the way out. Just loosen it enough to remove the handle. :)

 

Yes on the screws. I found a thread here previously that went over the steps. Sounds super easy, so long I don't mess up by unscrewing all the way out and dropping the screws inside the door.

 

if you go the automotivetouchup.com route, get the catalyzed clearcoat spraycan to go along with the base color (instead of just the regular gloss clear can). It's about 2.5x as much, but dries about as hard as OEM clearcoat. Should make the handles quite a bit more durable, I can see regular spray paint getting worn off.

 

 

I don't see an ordering option that says "catalyzed" spray can. Is that the "ready to spray" can? It looks like this choice requires a spray gun.

 

EDIT: I think I misunderstood. The clearcoat is separate from the paint I see... so it looks like that should be this product that you are referring to:

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/spray-paint/spraymax-2k-clearcoat.aspx

Edited by Lifeisabeach
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so it looks like that should be this product that you are referring to:

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/spray-paint/spraymax-2k-clearcoat.aspx

 

 

Yup, that's is.

 

There's a plunger in the bottom that you press when ready to spray that activates the mix.

Like it says on the site make sure you have a respirator, it's pretty caustic stuff.

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Yup, that's is.

 

There's a plunger in the bottom that you press when ready to spray that activates the mix.

Like it says on the site make sure you have a respirator, it's pretty caustic stuff.

 

 

Roger that. I decided to hit a body shop for a quote just for laughs. There's a 3" scratch on the hood that needs to go; I want to get the plate holder off the front and the holes plugged to look nicer (the body shop said they can't do a simple "plug"); 2 door handles repainted; and the side-view mirror painted properly. $1125. Ouch. The handles and mirror cover alone I'm comfortable doing myself and my neighbor says he can help with the rest, so I'll definitely give this a whirl. Thanks for the advice. I'll plan on posting photos once everything's done.

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  • 2 months later...

Hey all, quick question... my neighbor is painting the door handles and mirror cover for me. I got what is supposed to be matching paint from AutomotiveTouchup (Tuxedo Black Metallic) and confirmed the color code on the spray can (UH). He's got 3 layers down and it's matte black, not metallic at all. Is it the clearcoat that will add that metallic sheen to it? We'll find out one way or another in the morning when he's ready to put that on.

 

Side note... I managed to loose the retaining screw for the front door handle (it apparently wasn't screwed in as deeply as the back door and caught me by surprise when it fell out). Any simple way to get it out? It fell down pretty far down. I popped the door panel off and worked a bit on the interior panel that holds the speakers but wasn't comfortable pulling that off completely.

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No, the clearcoat is clear. Sounds like he didn't mix up the paint enough or sprayed it wrong. Did you look at it closely in sunlight? Maybe it's just the lighting.

No, it was definitely a matte black. It came in a spray can and I know he's using it right. He shook the can regularly and he's well accustomed to working with spray paint (runs a sign business, mostly deals in vinyl). Well this blows. I guess I'll get up with AutomotiveTouchup.

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Ok, update with photos. The base coat, when in the sun next to the car, was more metallic in look than matte. In fact, it's exactly as the paint description is... tuxedo black metallic. But it didn't have that gloss, which is what the clearcoat is for anyway. AutomotiveTouchup's site does say to expect a dull finish before applying the clearcoat, so it was as should be expected. Here's one of the handles with just the base coat.

 

post-39725-0-77415800-1462540315_thumb.jpg

 

So far, looking good. So my neighbor applied the clearcoat next (3 coats of it). That definitely gave it the high gloss look as expected, and in the shade, it looked perfect. Then I put the handle up to the car, with good lighting on it.

 

post-39725-0-97985600-1462540326_thumb.jpg

 

 

Gaaaaaaaaahhhhh! What the freaking freak? It's not supposed to look greenish bronze like that! I emailed AutomotiveTouchup asking what could have gone wrong here... no response. I'm totally disgusted. So I just got a quote from a reputable body shop here to get it done right, along with a hood scratch that needs to be done, and I'm going to have the bumper holes patched and repainted properly instead of settling on the plugs I'm using. There was a bit of scuffing to the bumper from the front plate holder that bugs me, so I just wanna git 'er done and be done with it.

post-39725-0-77415800-1462540315_thumb.jpg

post-39725-0-97985600-1462540326_thumb.jpg

Edited by Lifeisabeach
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Could always pop on chrome covers. Look good and might be less expensive.

 

 

Errr... no. Not doing covers. No way, no how. I considered getting the chrome replacement handles for the Lincoln MKX (direct fit for the Edge), and thought about getting aftermarket ones from Dorman, but decided I'd rather stick with the original look. The shop I'm taking it to is charging about $200 for the handles and mirror cover (one side was the wrong color when I bought it... didn't notice till a couple weeks after buying it). I have to get the hood scratch done and want to get the bumper done right (tried plugs for the front license plate holes and it looks better than with the plate, but I may as well get it done right since it's going to a paint shop). It's gonna run me about $950 for everything, which is pretty reasonable. This place specializes in minor body work and painting, and have a pretty solid rep from reading around, so I feel good about these guys.

Edited by Lifeisabeach
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